Budgeting Bloggers: July

Alternate title: “Whoops. I like shopping.”

Row 1: Dress // Hat // Shirt (on sale) // Watch (on sale)

Row 2: similar Bag // Vest // Black Top // Gingham Top

Row 3: Top // Sunglasses (on sale) // Sandals (on sale) // Belt (on sale)

Row 4: Top // Earrings // Skirt // Dress (on sale)

July’s Budget: $770

($150 starting budget + $11 unspent last month + $535 blog income minus taxes + $74 selling old clothes)

July’s Spending: $839

I started doing these budget posts to hold myself accountable for my clothing-related spending and for the most part it has worked really well. This was the first month in a long time that I had one of those moments right after hitting “Submit Order” that I had a sinking feeling of guilt. Sure enough, I checked my handy budget spreadsheet and realized I had gone over…like way over. I immediately started thinking of what I could do to fix it. I started going through my closet for things to sell to my favorite second-hand shop (which I did, and made $74). And I swore I would return something once my latest orders came in. I always say I’m not going to keep everything from a big order (sometimes I’m just trying to get the free shipping), but then I love everything and keep it anyway. This time, luckily, two things I ordered came with weird stains on them, and another pair of shoes that were shipped separately mysteriously never got delivered and J. Crew reimbursed me. I don’t believe in karma or fate or any of that crap, but this was…well…convenient. So in the end, I was only $69 over my budget, which is manageable. Good thing, too, because I was thisclose to swearing off shopping for August. 😉

So what led me to spend all of the monies in July? SALES. It’s the end of the summer for retailers and I lost all willpower when faced with those steep discounts. That polka dot drop waist dress was 40% off and had my name written all over it. I picked up a new pair of jean shorts (not pictured) at the same time, and that’s actually something I’d been wanting to find this summer. J. Crew’s summer clearance (which is still going on) was a winner too – I already loved my striped linen shirt in blue, so I got it in pink, plus I got that cute pink gingham top and a striped summer scarf (not pictured). Ann Taylor’s extra X% off sale got me good (no shock there), and so did Madewell’s, which is when I snagged those sunglasses and that thick brown belt (another thing that’s been on my wishlist for a while). And don’t even get me started on the Nordstrom sale. You should all pat me on the back for only taking home one Ted Baker watch and one pair of Kendra Scott earrings.

The end-of-season sales are still going on, and soon we’ll all be tempted with pretty new fall things. Have fun, but…I say this from experience…be careful out there!

Be sure to check out Franish on Monday to see how all the other Budgeting Bloggers did this month. I’m sure it will be very embarrassing for me.

Save

Save

Save

Save